It was the fifth non-descript motel in the last three weeks. The sole light in the room came from a small side table by the window, stacked with manila folders. The blond at the table bore the clock no heed as it glared 3:07 in red digital letters. She hadn't planned on getting any sleep anyway. The case they were working on was particularly gruesome even for their typical fare, and they were caught in that frustrating position of waiting for another body before moving forward. The team was told to get some rest, and that there was nothing that could be done until they had more to work with. JJ had a feeling that few of them would be sleeping. It was one thing to fall asleep of exhaustion after tiring in pursuit of catching an unsub, but it was another thing entirely to go to sleep because of waiting. It's like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve, but only much darker.

At least JJ could busy herself with looking for their next case rather than sit and wallow in the dark details and what ifs to come. Technically picking the cases was now Garcia's job, but she had gotten the eccentric techie to hand over some potentials as they were pouring in quicker than even her fingers could type. While JJ didn't miss the pressure of picking the right case, or the guilt of letting a case slip through the cracks, she did miss the solitude of the work and the fact that her previous position allowed her more distance from the victims and unsubs. She seemed to be living in other peoples' heads more than her own as of late.

Her thoughts turned towards her darling boy, Henry, and her less than stable relationship with Will. Going from Media Liaison to profiler had afforded her one critical realization on a personal front. She was in a loveless marriage. It was a horrible thought that still made her wince, but this didn't make it any less true. Worse still, she had feelings for another. The guilt of this was no lessened by the acute awareness that she had liked this other person longer than she had even known Will.

A sudden noise derailed her thoughts. Looking down at the table, JJ saw that she had carved out a small chunk of the wood out of the surface with her fingernails. 4:10. It was as good of a time as any for a break.

After grabbing her room key she took a look in the floor length mirror on the opposing wall. Her blond hair was up in a haphazard ponytail with a few tendrils falling into her heavily ringed eyes. Her make up had been removed and she was dressed in sweatpants from Penn State and a white tank top. She decided to forgo the gun and shoes as her intentions were to strictly wander the halls, gain some air, perhaps clarity.

This idea was wiped from her head the moment she stepped out of the door. She could now hear what had distracted her earlier. There was music coming from the lobby downstairs, a piano to be exact. JJ vaguely remembered seeing an old standup piano when checking in the night before. Her curiosity piqued at whom would be playing at 4 in the morning.

The faded red carpet masked her footsteps as she made her way towards the music. Whoever was playing was quite good. JJ had never cared for classical music until college when it became the only thing she could study to. Whoever was playing was apparently a fan of Beethoven. When she got to the entrance to the lobby, the beginning notes to the Moonlight Sonata were filling the air. It had always been a favourite; there was a certain beautiful melancholy that seemed even more fitting given the dark paths her mind had been traveling. She couldn't help but smile when the piano player came into view. It figured that the object of her recent thoughts, of so many of her thoughts, would be up so late playing one of her favourite songs an abandoned motel lobby. She wasn't sure if life loved her, or hated her.

Brown locks blocked most of her face, but there was no denying the posture, or slender fingers that slid back and forth across the keys. Emily. JJ enjoyed the chance to observe unnoticed. It wasn't a privilege she got often. Emily Prentiss was as remarkable as she was remarkably closed off. JJ always cherished the pieces that she'd collected; pieces that either slipped past Emily's compartmentalization, or were let out. Resting on the piano top was a small tumbler glass filled with, judging by the deep amber colour, probably whiskey. Emily and whiskey; it was fitting. JJ's smile grew as she watched the brunette pause to take a drink.

"You play beautifully." Emily's shoulder's tensed slightly but showed no other outward sign of surprise. After a moment, the brunette turned and gave JJ a sheepish smile,

"Thanks, what are you doing up Jayj?" A small tingle ran down her spine at the husk in Emily's voice, perhaps deepened by the alcohol, perhaps out of lack of use. Ignoring the question JJ stepped a little closer to the sitting woman,

"You never told me you could play." Emily opened her mouth and closed it a few times; JJ had a feeling Emily was deciding whether or not to share something. There was this particular way her eyebrows furrowed when she was caught in the personal realm and unsure how to proceed. JJ usually tried not to push when she saw this, but tonight felt different,

"How long have you played the piano?" This question seemed a bit easier to answer; Emily turned so she was completely facing JJ,

"My mother set me up with lessons when I was seven. It seemed like a proper thing for me to be skilled in. I played from then until twenty-two; I only picked it up again recently..." Emily seemed to drift off at this point, as if her own memories had grabbed hold and pulled her away from the blond. In an attempt to bring her back, JJ came closer and put her hand on Emily's shoulder.

Her hand seemed to burn where it touched skin. Emily wore a tank top similar to JJ's own. She almost retracted the hand until she heard a soft sigh emanate from the older woman. She seemed to relax slightly. When their eyes locked, JJ was struck by how much was lay behind her eyes, and by how badly she wanted to know inside every last crevice of this woman.

"It's a long story." Emily was stalling now. JJ smirked,

"I like long stories." After a moment, Emily returned the smile,

"In that case I need a fresh drink, and you need one too."